Independent Cellular Coverage Mapping

About FarrPoint's Cellular Mapping Solution

Watch FarrPoint's video which explains how the mapper works and details the benefits it can provide.

How does our cellular coverage survey solution work?

Our cellular coverage mapper is an autonomous network monitoring tool that provides real-world performance statistics of all available cellular networks in the surveyed area. The unit is typically placed in the trunk of a vehicle and powered by the 12V auxilliary power plug. Up to five small antennae are temporarily mounted on the trunk lid. During the survey period, the unit simultaneously measures cellular signal strength of each carrier’s signal in the surveyed area. The data is sent to Farrpoint’s cloud servers in real time for processing. Units can also be mounted in utility vehicles for long-term measurement. The result is an independent physical survey of Cellular coverage producing a true picture of service availability.

We've helped various clients to accurately define cellular coverage in their area

Along with many projects in the UK, our Mapper has been deployed in Canada in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, providing public agencies with accurate cellular coverage information across all service providers. The mapper is typically installed on utility vehicles that travel extensively within the jurisdiction in question. The mapper can be easily installed in any vehicle, including ATVs. There is a backpack version that can even be carried on foot on wilderness trails

Why knowing actual signal coverage data is important?

• Identification of 4G and 5G cellular coverage gaps for public safety.
• Ensuring that emergency alert messages reach all residents.
• Understanding coverage differences between service providers.
• Understanding the need for new towers following requests from service providers.
• Ensuring coverage for IoT services with an emphasis on agricultural and forestry requirements.
• Contractual acceptance and verification for publicly funded projects.

Benefits of getting independent cellular coverage data in your area

• Significantly lower costs than standard drive test surveying, which requires specialised resources and equipment
• Visualization of 4G and 5G coverage gaps, which can be used to provide feedback to service providers
• Provides independent coverage assurance and verification allowing for planning and evaluation of emergency communication systems, meeting commercial requirements, and enabling agricultural and forestry related IoT applications.
• Our mapper is autonomous, easily installed in any vehicle, and requires no technical knowledge to operate.

Mapping examples

Image 1: New Brunswick cellular coverage interactive map

Image 2: Newcastle covered for all UK operators

Key features

• Independent & real-time monitoring of 4G/5G network performance in outdoor areas
• Our Cellular Coverage Mapper is autonomous, installed easily to any vehicle and requires no technical knowledge
• Logs multiple engineering parameters including signal strength, channel parameters and location data
• Results and analysis are stored in a secure central database and presented on a secure mapping portal in real-time
• Survey results are presented in a simple visual format. No technical knowledge required to interpret results
• Scalable design - multiple units can be deployed across areas, simultaneously collecting data to continuously build up a library of cellular network measurements across a geography

Case studies:

• New Brunswick Government Cellular Coverage Mapping Project
• NC500 Mobile Coverage Map to help tourists identify mobile not-spots
• Newcastle and North Tyneside 4G Coverage Map

We develop solutions together with our clients

Email [email protected] to find out more.